Automatic train-pipe connecter



' 1,645,025 E. A. ROBINSON AUTOMATIC TRAIN PIPE CONNECTER Filed May 13. 1921 //7 Van/017 Patented Get. 11, 1927.

tlfhiilli D ST A T ES enrnnr EtCfE;

EIDVJARD A. RGBINSON, OFI'IONTREAL', QUEBEC, CANADA, ASSIGHOR TO HIMSELF:AND

ELLISON EDWARD WORKMAN, OF MONTREAL, CANADA;

AUTOMATIC TRAIN-EZPE CONNEOTERi Application filed May 13,. 1921, Serial No. 469,188, and iircanada May m; 1921.

connecter and has particular reference to.

the meanswhich pro'ides for. the adjustment of the face of the con-necter which makes contact with companion connecter on another car this adjustmentbeingto effect'the relative positions of the contacting faceof the connecter pullingface of the car coupler. This broad idea is not claimed by me: as it: forms the.

subjectmatter ofa pending application;

My present invention has .for' its -0l3]6t to. provide simple construction of combined buffer and shockhbsorber which may be adustedinits carrying part withoutin any.

way disorganizing or dismembering the carryiugparts of the connect-er.

To this end the invention. consists of a ""ring partthrough which i one end Y of a hxiicalspring is screwed, th opposite end being rotativcly connected to the connecter.

head.

For full com arehension, however, ofmy invention reference must be had-to the accompanying drawings in which similar reference characters indicate the same barts and wherein:

' re 1 is aside elevation of my invenindicated 1 diagraimnatically Figure 2 is a transverse sectional View takenonline. 2-2 Fig. 1; 1

Figure 3 is a-Vert-ical sectional View taken on line 33 Fig. 2; and:

Figure 4i 2 rear View of the bracket with the 1 spring, protruding through it.

The car coupler is indicated at'2 and its pulling face at 3, the bracket for supporting the connecter attend the connecter head at 5. well known construction and apart from combination do not enter into my invention.

According to my. invention a helical spring lelis screwed through a cylindrical opening twin the bracket. This cylindrical opening is of slightly less diameter than the-spring andrthe bracket is split ill'lClzPlOVldGCl with a clampingbolt '7. The opposite end ofthe spring is rotatab'ly connected to the COD".

necter head by a yoke 9 the rear face 10 0f which is annularly fiat and'disposed parallel to the vertical plane invwhiclr the mouths of thegaskets lie.. This rear-face of the yoke has a rearward extension in the form of a *ith regard to the nth the-pulling face of arm coupler All these parts are and'may be of:

central hub; 13 with surrounding, annular shoulder. Atopposite sides 0ft the lmha pair of'cu-ryed jaws 12 are positionedifor the spring'l li The engaging ends Oftthef jaws are curved inwardly as 'at-15 and'i are 60;

adapted to he moved into positionimrippingthe springs-by. a clamping. collar having a toys lindricaliportion 16 and aconverging endil7; formin a concave: inner facer18-conformirrg to the outer faces ofthe jaws12. TllBHCyHn 6.5:}

drical portion of this collar: is internally; screw-tnreaded to engage the: outer, circumsference of theyoke which\isicorrespondin w lythreaded; The forward endtconvolutiom of i the helical vspring. 14 is set; at'rightfangles; 70,1;

to the. axis ofthe springqandzis engaged-,andi held rigidly inplace bythejaws 15.

The object, as above stated;ofzinyiinivene tionis to provide for the projection-10f the connector forwardlyfrom the; bracket by; simple means which also servestfor. theeead? ju-stment oftheextent ofprojection. This;

is effected by the combination ofipartsju'sti.

described, as follows In orderto setsthe! face of the connector. in the same veitical'planeiv as-the ulling face of thecoupleri wheniiniv iially, adjusting the parts the collar 16x18; rotatecLto .move its clampingiend 17 away; from the jaws 12, thus releasing thecclamp;

andjaws sufficiently to ipermitarotationf Ofi the endconvolutionQO of the springialong means, the jaws 12 are again tightened, thus aa setting the head in its proper position with regard to the pulling face. ofthe coupler;

Although I have illustrated clampingnjaws;

12 and collar 16 for so connecting the-for;-

Ward'end of'the spring. to thehead thatiti 100 may be rigidly fastened and rotatableiunder." different: circumstances, any other means; performing these functions. may be; e1nployedwithout departingifroin the spiritiofs' my invention; and thesameicancbe said of:

the fastening-of the spring in its adjusted: position: in the bracket l; i Whatl: claiinis as follows: 1.- in an automatic trainpipe connector:-

of the type operating in conjunction with and in a plane parallel to the plane of a car coupler, the combination with the connecter head andmeans for supporting the same from the car coupler, a combined buffing and adjusting mechanism consisting of a yielding member connected at one end to the supporting means to adjust angularly with rotation of the mechanism; means for connecting the opposite end in rotatably adjustable position to the connecter head with rigid immovable connection duringnormal operating conditions; and means for releasing the last mentioned end of the yielding member when adjustment is required.

2. In an automatic train pipe connecter of the type operating in conjunction with and in a plane parallel to the plane of a car coupler, the combination with the connecter head and means for supportingithe same from the car coupler, a combined bufling and adjusting mechanism consisting of a buffer spring, means for clamping one end of the spring in the supporting means and for permitting adjustment of the spring axially with circumferential movement of the spring, means for connecting the opposite end of the buffer spring in rotatably adjustable position to the connecter head with rigid immovable connection during normal operating conditions, said last mentioned means being operable to release the last mentioned end of the buffer spring when adjustment is required.

8. In an automatic train pipe connecter of the type operating in conjunction with and in plane. parallel to the plane of a car. coupler, the combination with the con necter head and means for supporting the same from the car coupler, of a combined buffing and adjustable mechanism consisting of a buffer spring, means for clamping one end of the spring in the supporting means and for permitting adjustment of the spring axially with rotary movement, means for connecting the opposite end of the buffer spring to the connecter head in rotatably adjustable position with rigid immovable connection during normal operating conditions, said last mentioned means being operable to release the last mentioned end of the buffer spring when adjustment is required while retaining the same against axial movement.

4. In an automatic train pipe connecter of the type operating in conjunction with and in a plane parallel tothe plane of a car coupler, the combination with the connecter head and means for supporting the same from the oarcoupler, of a combined buffing and adjustable mechanism consisting of a buffer spring, means for clamping one end of the spring in the supporting; means and for permitting adjustment of the spring axially, means for connecting the opposite end of the buffer spring. to the connecter head with rigid immovable connection dur ing normal operating conditions, consisting of a yoke carried by the connecter head and having movable jaws for engaging the end convolution of the spring and a clamping membermounted adjustably upon the yoke and adapted to in different positions of ad- .justment clamp the jaws upon the spring and release the same respectively.

5. In an automatic train pipe connecter, a bracket, a spring clamped in the lower end of the bracket to permit adjustment of the spring as a thread within the bracket, a head, a yoke carrying the head and having a flat rear face, parallel with the operating face of the head, a cooperating flat face upon the end of the spring furthest from the bracket, clamping means for holding the end of the spring in different rotary positions against the flat-end of the yoke, and means for tightening and releasing the clamping means.

6. In an automatic train pipe connecter, a bracket, a spring adjustable angularly and at the same time longitudinally with respect to the bracket and supported in it, forwardly projecting and having a flat front end, a head and supporting connections between the head and the spring clamping the spring in different rotary positions with respect to the head.

7. In an automatic train pipe connecter, a bracket, a spring adjustable rotatably and at the same time longitudinally with respect to the bracket and supported in it, forwardly projecting and having a flat front end, a head and supporting connectionsbetween the head and the spring clamping the spring in different rotary positions with respect to the head, retaining the relative longitudinal position of the head and spring.

8. In an automatic train pipe connecter, a bracket, a spring rotatable therein and axially advancing with rotation, clamping means for holding the spring, a head and supporting means for holding the head upon the spring comprising a rotatably movable clamp adapted to clamp the spring against the head in relatively differing rotary positions and a clamping nut for holding the clamp in said rotary positions.

9. In a train pipe connecter, a bracket, a spring adjustable longitudinally therein, clamping means for holding the spring in adjusted position, a head and clamping means for fastening the head to the spring and permitting adjustment of the head around the axis of the spring while maintaining the adjusted forward projection of the head.

In testimony whereof I have signed my.

name to this specification. 

